Chemical supplier Nippon Shokubai has agreed to acquire US-based chemical producer Sirrus for an undisclosed sum, allowing carmaker General Motors and diversified conglomerate Mitsui to exit.
Founded in 2009 as Bioformix, Sirrus makes monomers and derivatives that enhance performance and cut energy consumption in advanced manufacturing and assembly processes.
The company will operate as an independent subsidiary of Nippon Shokubai, and expects to make use of its manufacturing, regulatory, capital planning, sales and marketing resources as it looks to speed up development and commercialisation of its technology.
Sirrus had raised approximately $35.5m in equity financing and $10m in debt, according to press releases and securities filings.
Mitsui subsidiary Mitsui Global Investment (MGI) took part in the company’s $13.6m series A round, which was led by Braemar Energy Ventures and backed by Arsenal Venture Partners, in 2012.
All three returned for a $6.5m series B round in mid-2015 that Braemar co-led with GM Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of General Motors. The series B was closed alongside $5m of debt financing.
Nippon Shokubai president Masanori Ikeda said: “It is rare to find a platform monomer company like Sirrus to provide best in class reactive monomers and materials to its customers.
“Combined with Sirrus’ intellectual property position, track record of innovation and access to a broad range of customers and applications, the transaction is a strong strategic fit for Nippon Shokubai.”